Gustave MEYER

The following bio was taken from pages 306-307 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Gloria Freeman Riley

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

Gustave Meyer (1850-1911) was born in Germany. He came to the United States circa 1852 with his mother, Anna Meyer, and other family members. His father had evidently died before they left Germany. They landed at New Orleans, and it is assumed that they sailed up the Mississippi River to Missouri, where they settled. Anna Meyer later married a Steadley. Emma Douglas (1853-1903) was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, about the same time that Anna Meyer and her small son settled there. Emma’s parents were Dr. Rice J. and Lucy Ann Reynolds Douglas. Lucy Ann and Rice Douglas left Orange City, Virginia with two of Lucy Ann’s brothers, intending to go to California. The Douglases stopped in St. Joseph, but the Reynolds brothers continued on to California. Dr. Rice Douglas practiced medicine in St. Joseph until his death. Gustave Meyer and Emma Douglas married circa 1874. They moved from Missouri to Shreveport, Louisiana, then to Henderson in the mid-1870’s, where Gustave bought a livery stable business. Later he also had a grocery store. Gustave was engaged in business in Henderson until his death. Gustave and Emma were loyal church members, attending the First Baptist Church of Henderson. Gustave was charitable almost to a fault. He was liberal in his support of the church and other worthwhile public organizations. He was a plain, practical, and unassuming man, the same on all occasions. Never was there a kinder, more loving and devoted husband and father. While Gus Geyer was quiet and reserved, Emma was very outgoing and always enjoyed visiting with friends and loved ones. Emma created some beautiful tapestries. One was a huge tapestry of the “Woman at the Well.” Gustave and Emma resided at 115 West Ragley, where most of their twelve children were born. The first two may have been born in Louisiana. Their children were: Emma, Charles, Gustave, Dorothy, Emily, Anna, Grover, Albert, William, Imogene, Monnie, and Douglas. There were six boys and six girls, six blonds and six brunettes. Five of the Meyer children died very young. They were: Charles (October 1876), Gustave (February 2, 1878-September 18, 1879), Emily Beall (December 25, 1880-October 3, 1883), Albert (November 8, 1886-October 13, 1887), and William (March 4, 1889-May 30, 1889). While Emma (1875-1896), the first child, was visiting relatives in Grand Cane, she contacted a fever and died before her twenty-first birthday. She was engaged to be married in a few months. Dorothy Moss “Dollie” (1879-1956) married John A. Hughes of Longbranch on December 19, 1900. John and Dollie had seven children: Allen Douglas, Gustave Steve, Charles Reynolds, Anna Elizabeth, Catherine Dent, John Albert (1922-1945), and Monnie Imogene. Anna Steadley “Nannie” (1882-1956) married Eugene Lacy of Henderson on January 20, 1904. Their children are: Dorothy Eugenia (1905-1934), William Eugene, and Griff Gustave. Nannie took care of her father and the three youngest children after her mother’s death. She and Eugene reared their family in the Meyer home. Gus Lacy still resides at the same address. William has remained a resident of Henderson. Grover Cleveland (1884-1951) married Mary Belle “Mable” Lacy of Henderson, who was a sister to Eugene Lacy. Three children were born to this union: Gladys Augusta, Grace Evelyn, and Frances (1912-1920). Imogene (1890-1920) married Charles E. Lowe of Laneville on July 24, 1918. They had only one child, Kathryn. Imogene died shortly after the birth of her daughter. Monnie Arametta (1893-1957) married William E. “Bill” Wylie on January 10, 1915. They had seven children. The first two, William E. III (July 30, 1917-August 29, 1917) and Charles Meyer (July 12, 1918-March 21, 1919) died as babies. The other five are: Earl, Roger, Alfred, Joe, and Mary. Joe and Alfred live in Henderson. Douglas Cameron (1897-1957) married Fannie Belle Ward of Kilgore on April 12, 1919. Their two daughters are Frances Elizabeth and Mary Ward. The writer is sure that she expresses the feeling of all descendants of Gustave and Emma Meyer when she says, “We are proud of our heritage.” Written by Catherine Hughes Keeling